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Dec 23 2023

NATO’s struggles. Ontario over-rule. Worst tech. The Roundup

Dec 23, 2023
David Akin's Roundup
Clippings of #cdnpoli, #media, and #tech content aimed at those with an interest in Canadian politics and policy. And sometimes Canadian postage stamps.
Canada
On military readiness, ‘everyone is in big trouble’ after Ukraine aid: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that all NATO allies are struggling with military supplies as they work to keep Ukraine outfitted in their war against the Russian invasion. [Global]
As Poilievre marked the end of his first full year as Opposition Leader, [a] look at what he revealed in his year-end media interviews. [TorStar]

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is heading to Jamaica once again for a family vacation on the Caribbean island over the holiday break. [Global]
From the provinces
High expectations, tight budget pose a challenge for Manitoba's new premier
Recent opinion polls suggest he is riding high, including an Angus-Reid survey earlier this month that suggested his approval rating is tops among Canada's premiers. But political analysts say the real test lies ahead, as Kinew tries to fulfil promises to boost health care, improve education and give raises to public-sector workers while dealing with the province's chronic deficits. [CP]

The collective agreement talks between the Quebec government and public sector unions remain deadlocked just a few days before Christmas. [Global]
The Ontario Energy Board strayed "out of their lane" with a decision that would increase costs for new homes heated with natural gas, the province's energy minister said Friday as he promised to overturn it. But environmental groups said the OEB's decision was a huge win for the environment and Ontarians, as it would have encouraged the uptake of greener home heating and cooling, such as with heat pumps, and the reversal would be just a gift to Enbridge Gas. [CP]
From Sept. 18 to Dec. 16, slightly over 12 per cent of people in Regina and Saskatoon between six months and 64 years old were vaccinated against COVID-19. [Global]

The technology has been used since the fall of 2023 and allows transcribers to listen and correct the written record of legislature debates. [Edmonton Journal]
Elsewhere
How pro-Russian 'yacht' propaganda influenced US debate over Ukraine aid
A website founded by a former US Marine who now lives in Russia has fuelled a rumour that Volodymyr Zelensky purchased two luxury yachts with American aid money. Despite the false claim, the disinformation plot was successful. It took off online and was echoed by members of the US Congress making crucial decisions about military spending. [BBC]
Special counsel Jack Smith Jack Smith’s said expedited review was needed to keep Donald Trump’s D.C. election-obstruction trial on track for early March. [WaPo]

The U.S. offshore wind industry is eying a brighter 2024, with work expected to start on several projects following a year marked by stalled developments and billions of dollars in write-offs. [Reuters]
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Sci/Tech
The biggest technology failures of 2023
The Titan submersible, lab-grown chicken, and GM’s wayward Cruise robotaxis made our annual list of the worst in tech. [MIT Technology Review]

With Google dropping support for the oldest of social networks, Usenet is now left without another major entry gate. [ZDNet]
Issued this day ...
... in 1949: Sc #296: King George VI -- "Postes-Postages" Omitted Coil Stamps. Design: Herman Herbert Schwarz. Photograph: Dorothy Wilding.

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